Vending machine



July 1, 1 w. M. STEWART 2,514,681

VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1945 HTTO/QA/ Ey July H, 1950 w. M. STEWART 2,514,681

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmzfiww 9 1 9% w. M. fiTEWART 25141 5831 VENDING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1945 3 Shea 3 rzgm 72 64 76 FIG. 5

Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE -Wilson Marks Stewart, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Application June 18, 1945, Serial No. 600,082

This invention relates to coin-controlled vending machines.

More particularly, the machine of the present invention is adapted to vend bottled wares, such as soft drinks, milk, cream, and others. In my American Patent No. 2,284,931, granted June 2,1942, there is shown a coin-controlled vending machine which enables one to select a particular bottle out of a plurality of bottles stored in the machine. The present invention is an improvement on the machine disclosed in my said patent, primarily in that it is so designed as to appreciably increase the storing or efiective capacity of such machine, and the operation of selecting and removing a bottle is simplified and requires less time and effort.

A specific object of theinvention is to provide a vending machine wherein the bottled wares to be vended are stored in the machine in superposed parallel upper and lower trays, the bottles in an upper traybeing removed first before the bottles in the corresponding lower tray are removed.

Another specific object of the invention is to cause the bottles to beshifted automatically toward one end of the machine, say the front end, where they maybe picked up one by one, successively, by a lifting device, to be removed out of the machine.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a coin-controlled vending machine made in accordance with my invention, the machine shown being adapted to vend wares in bottles, the lid of the machine being in part broken away;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectionof the machine, as on line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, transverse section of the machine, as on line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the upper bottle-supporting slides or trays;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of Figure 4; 1

Figure 7 is an inverted, isometricview of the bottle-pusher member; 7

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, transverse section as on line 8-8 in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bottle-lifting device y Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged View of part of the bottle-lifting device;

1 Claim. (Cl. 31287) 2 Figure 11 is an enlarged section as on line HIl in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a top plan view of the gate; and

Figure 13 is a section on line I3l 3 in Figure 8. According to the invention, the bottles to be vended are stored in the machine, in parallel, su perposed rows being supported in parallel, longitudinal lower trays, and. in parallel, longitudinal upper trays. In servicing the machine, the lower trays are first loaded, and the upper trays then loaded. The bottles in the upper trays are exposed to view. A bottle lifting device, when freed by a coin-controlled device, is shifted to a position where the selected bottle may be grasped and lifted, and the bottle is then carried to a position from which the bottle may be withdrawn out of the machine. The bottle lifting device is now locked, and it is not released again until another coin has been dropped into the coin-controlled device. As the bottle selected is'removed from the tray, another bottle in the same, tray is shifted automatically to take the place of the bottle previously selected. When a particular upper tray is emptied of all bottles, the tray automatically operates to allow access to be gained to a bottle in the lower tray underneath this nowempty upper tray.

Referring now by numerals to the drawings, [0 is a casing, preferably insulated, including rear wall ll, front wall l2, side walls l3, and bottom M. The top wall of the casing is formed by a plate I5, preferably of metal, extending rearwardly from the front wall, a glass panel 16, and a lid [1 hinged to the rear wall II as by suitable hinges I8. The forward edge of the glass panel I6 is spaced from the adjacent rearward edge of the metal plate I5 to form or define an elongated and narrow slot 20 extending transversely of the casing l0. The-plate I5 is formed with a length wise narrow slot 2| communicating at one end with or opening into the transverse slot 20 and communicating at the other end with a transverse slot 22 preferably parallel with the slot 20. Between the slots 20 and 22, the plate I5 is provided with an ejection opening 23 through which the bottles may be removed one at a time.

Slidably mounted to move back and fort parallelly with the slot 22, is a bottle-receiving device or gate G. This device may be madeas shown and described in my said Patent No. 2,284,931. Thus, it comprises a substantially U-shaped member presenting two parallellvertical side walls 24, a connecting wall 25, and a narrow top wall or member 26 formed with a lug or extension 21 recessed inwardly asat28to receive the stem A of the bottle lifting device B to be described later. The gate is so mounted relatively to the slot portion 22, and the lug 21 is so sized that the lug will preferably extend rearwardly beyond or underlie the slot 22, so that the stem A will move with or be moved by the gate G when the stem is engaged in the recess 22.

The gate G may be slidably supported by suitable rollers 30 journalled in a bracket 3| rising from thegate; and'riding on a-transverse rod 33. An angl'ni'en'iber 32 is'preferably secured toth'e front wall 25, to lie under the rod 33. The gate will thus be securel suspended from the rod 3'31 To retain the gate in a vertical position,=a transverse plate or member 35 is secured in a vertical position parallel with the rod 3'3'; to beslidably err--- gaged by the gate as it is moved-back and-forth on the rod 33.

The operation of the gate G, from a: bottl-- receiving (or stem-receiving) position, to a bottledelivering-position, and vice versa'; is controlled by a suitable coin-controlled device; usually known as a coinslide. Such a coiri-controlled device; shown asC,a-'dapted for the purposes: of this-inventiom-is one known as Model 500, manufactur'edby A.- B. T. Mfg: 00., ofChicago, Illinois. In su'ch'a model, thereisa coin-controlled, main shaft flejournalled inthebox of the device C. For iny'purposes; this shaft is extended -to-pro= ject into the-casing" l; To'th router or project'- ing end of thes'haft is fixed alever 40. The free end of: the lever is longitudinally slotted to slidaibly receive a pin 4! fixed to-a'nd'proj ecti'rig horn Eofitally from the 'wall 25 of the gate G; Thus, the movement 01 thegate: on supporting rod 33 is'controlled byth'e' rotationofi the sliaft w of the-* coin-controlled device" c.- Theshait 38 has azliinit'ed rotarymovement; and according-mine gatealso hasia 'lirnited movezfient, thus determine ingthe two extreme positions of-the=gate,: namely; its-bottle receiving western-receiving; position; and its bo'ttle delivering position, shown in Figure: 1- I When: in its bottle-receiving position; the gate" is in alignment with the 'axi's of the slot ahtn'at-is; the fecess' z'a 'isi theaixis or thesiot ziyready to receive: the stem A" of'the b'ottle' lifting device B, and the walls 2f o'fthe gateare equaily spaced from the axis of thesiot' Z1; ready to: receive the bottle thereoetween;-.-onthe" other hand; when a the ate: isin its other, or bottle delivering: or ejecting position; the bottle suspenned: by dr from the bottle lifting device-B is underthe eieotien o ening-'23; Where the=bottle can now be withdrawn or removed through the opening by lifting the bottle upwardly by the liitingideviee' B; as will be explained-later. E coil spring 4'2 tensionedbetweenthe lever 4'0; above the shaft/ 38 and a; wall 38A, is arrangedto'relasably hold tl-i'e gate in either of its=two extreme I QS"itififl's:

The bottle lifting" device B may be made as shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11 (which is'al so in prior U; s; Patent' No 2284,931 June 2; 1942) Thedevice is such that it can-below eredovera bottle, to graspits neok un'der'the head, and lift and-carry tlie bottle to its ejection positionunderthe e'je'otionopening'23. The-stem A vvill be'guided by'the slots -Zll, 2 l and Z Z -t'osuch positions The device also-such that tli'ebottle can berai'sed or: withdrawn out ofthemacliine; As shown; the devicec'onipr'ises aring- 43 from which extendsthe stern:shavings-suitable knob Mi Encircling the" ringis a coil spring 45 the ends of which are secured to: the stem A as by Soldering (not shown) Free to turn on the-rine 43, and lying between the ring and the spring, are a plurality of bushings 41. Fixed to the spring and to the bushings, are lifting fingers 48 (not shown in Figure 2 for the sake of clarity). Each of the fingers may comprise a finger proper 50 extending from a curved or looped portion 52 encircling the spring. The fingers are fixed to the bushings and to the spring by providing slots 52A in the looped portions and dropping solder, as at 5'3,1,into the slot& so that solder adheresfinot only to'thebushings but to the spring; and becomes lodged in the slots. The spring is secured to the ring at spaced intervals with solder as at '55. The spring will thus be held against rotation at spaced intervals, and the fingers will thus be free to turn t'o'a limitedextenti As will be readily seen, the bottleelifting. device is capable of handling or lifting bottles ofdifierent neck diameters, within afairly large range. Such a device also aoperates to lift soft drink bottles, the ends of the fingers engaging the edgedefined by the: skirt" of the usual metal cap. In removing. a bottleg the device-is lifted: until the-neck of: the bottle projects through the-=opening:23; (whereupon :theneck is grasped by one 'handand lifted upwardly, the fingers:- swinging outwardly to-- allow the: body; of the bottle to slip through and-between the fingers.

The bottles D,-' to be ventled,:.areheld inan upright positioncnelongated trays or slides are ranged in parallel and superposedrows, disposed longitudinally of the machine;,the: trays: serving as supports and guides. Thus,. 56': are parallel,

lowertrays, an'dE-l are parallel-,uppentrays. If

preferred, thou'gli not shown, the trays may." be

slanted" downwardly from rear: to frontor the I relationship. by crosswise? angles 6| soldered to the opposite ends-of the secti0ns-. Each'section includes aside wall 62 and a* bottom walli 6 3'; The-sections are sorseonred as? by the angles Elli to space them slightly apart and thus define-a longitudinaL central. slot 64. The wall? 63": is formed w'itha raised portion: or ridge '65; ,so that two such ridges will be presented tether-bottom of the'bottle upon wliichzit willislide easilylone gitudinally of the tray... Thei-liottles aref'urged lengthwise of the tray as by a springeurgedipush member 61- slidablymountedr on? thertrayl 'llo so mount the push member;. the':memben'may*in1= clude a horizontal plate 68 riding on the: tray an'olvlugs: 69 extending laterally from a web" 69A depending from the plate 682, the web extendeing: through: the slot-64 and the lugslengaging the underside: ofv the tray. The; pushzmember may be urged forwardly :aszby springs; tm be referred to presently, arranged a as: best shown in Figure 6. 12, 12A: and: 12B arethree rods: arr.- chored atopposite endsinth -angles til.v Sliding on the rod lziisa lug-;.13 extendingilaterally from the Web 6911 of. the pushmember 61. .74 is a z-shaped member having a lug, 85. slidable on the rod 12 and its opposite lug or leg 83: slidable on the rods 12A and [2131 86A is a second- Z- shaped memberhavingoneieg 'orlug 81" 'slida'ble on the rods [23 and its other leg slid'able on the rods 12 and 12A; Anchoredat opposite ends to the lug 13 of thepush-member B1 and the lug 85 of the memberl l is a spring Et encircling the rod 12. Anchored" atit'sendstotlie lugs 86 and of themembers 14'- and BGA' and encircling the rod 12A, is a spring 9 2 Anchored at opposite ends to the liig Bl of the member 86A and the frontangle 6'1? of the-=tray"and' encircling the rod 123, is a spring 95. The tension in each spring is such that the push member will be brought to the front end of the tray, and this arrangement is such that substantially the same tension will be stored in all three springs when the push member is brought to the rear of the tray as when the tray is filled with bottles. Moreover, each of the springs will stretch a distance less than the distance travelled by the pusher member away from the outer end of the tray.

The upper tray 51 has the same form as the lower tray 56, just described, except that it includes an additional member 15, in the form of a bent U comprising two parallel legs 75, and two vertical legs 11 connected at the top to a transverse member 18. The legs 16 are adapted to slide longitudinally in the grooves 19 formed under the ridges 65, and the legs 11 and member 18 define a member adapted to be engaged by the bottle lying forwardmost in the tray, for which it provides a stop in effect closing off that end of the tray. This stop is normally urged rearwardly to engage the forward end of the tray, as by coil springs 80 tensioned between the adjacent ends of the legs 16 and the tray.

The forwardmost bottle in the row defined by the lower tray will find support upon the floor of the machine, its forward movement being determined by its engagement with a transverse vertical wall or member 82, whereas the forwardmost bottle in the row defined by the upper tray will find support upon the additional member 15, which also serves to determine the forwardmost position of the forwardmost bottle.

The lower trays 56 may be fixed to the floor. The upper trays 51 are hinged as at 95 to a U-shaped bracket 96A fixed to the rear wall of the casing and are supported in their lowered or operative position, as shown, as by a crosswise bar 91 secured at its ends to the side walls l3 of the casing. Thus, the upper trays can be swung upwardly to expose the lower fixed trays 56 when these trays have to be serviced. After the lower trays have been serviced, the upper trays are lowered, and serviced in turn.

Operation.-If one desires to purchase a bottle, a coin is dropped into the coin-controlled device C. This releases the shaft 33, whereupon the gate G, with the stem A of the bottle lifting device B locked to the gate (that is, confined in the recess 28 and in the slot 22), is free to be moved parallel of the slot 22 until the recess 28 is in alignment with the slot 2|. The stem A is now free to be moved away from the gate, into the slot 2|, and thence, into the slot 20. When the stem A is in the slot 20, the device B is moved until it is opposite the bottle selected by the purchaser. The device is then manipulated to grasp and lift the bottle so selected, and the device is moved along the slot 20 in to the slot 2i to insert the stem A into the recess 28, and the device now moved along the slot 22, moving the gate therewith. When the device' is opposite the opening 23, the gate will become locked, The bottle is removed by lifting the device bodily by the stem. As a bottle is removed from its particular tray, the succeeding bottles will all be moved in the tray to present a bottle at the forward end of the tray, in a position to be lifted by the device B. When an upper tray is completely emptied of bottles, the bottle stop 15 automatically slides rearwardly against the front of the tray, to expose the forwardmost bottle in the tray below and to allow a clearance through which the device B may be lowered to grasp such last mentioned bottle. The bottles in the lower trays will similarly slide forwardly as the forwardmost bottle is removed.

I claim:

In a vending machine, a casing, a coin-controlled device for lifting wares and for moving the same to a position to be dispensed out of said casing, upper and lower guides for supporting the wares in two superposed rows, means for urging the wares toward said device, a member having a portion thereof positioned in spaced relationship with one end of said upper tray and forming therewith a passage through which said device may be lowered to reach a ware on said lower tray ultimately to raise the same to be dispensed, an extension associated with said upper guide ware-operated to an extended position to block the passage, and means automatically moving said extension from its extended position to its retracted position when empty of wares to open the passage to said device.

WILSON MARKS STEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,638,181 Bell Aug. 9, 1927 2,049,383 Frick July 28, 1936 2,222,887 Willey Nov. 26, 1940 2,284,931 Stewart June 2, 1942 

